Quinoa oil facts for kids

Quinoa oil is a special oil that comes from the seeds of the quinoa plant. Quinoa is a super grain that has been grown in the Andes Mountains for thousands of years, even before 3000 B.C.! While quinoa itself is famous for being full of protein, the oil from its seeds is also very useful.

Quinoa oil is a lot like corn oil. It's packed with important fats called fatty acids, like linoleic acid. These are fats your body needs but can't make on its own. Quinoa oil actually has more of these essential fatty acids than corn oil. Quinoa seeds can give us about 5.8% oil by weight. This is more than corn, which usually gives 3-4% oil. This means quinoa could potentially make more oil than the same amount of corn.

Most oils that have a lot of unsaturated fatty acids can go bad quickly. But quinoa oil, like corn oil, has many natural antioxidants. These are special substances that protect the oil. One important antioxidant in quinoa oil is called tocopherol (which is a type of vitamin E). These antioxidants help the oil stay fresh longer and not become rancid (which means it smells and tastes bad).

What is Quinoa Oil Used For?

Quinoa oil is a natural source of vitamin E, which is great for your skin. That's why you can find it in many skin creams that help with aging, and also in hair products. You can also use quinoa oil in your kitchen! It's a good choice for cooking, frying, and even making salad dressings. The oil has a good amount of saturated fatty acids, which makes it perfect for cooking. Quinoa oil has also been used to help treat skin conditions like eczema.

How is Quinoa Oil Made?

Quinoa oil is made by a process called cold pressing the quinoa seeds. This means the seeds are pressed to squeeze out the oil without using heat. The amount of oil you get from quinoa seeds can be anywhere from 2% to 9% of their weight, with an average of about 6%. This is a fairly high amount of oil compared to other grains like corn or wheat.